Refrigerated shelf structure



April 0, 1965 F. BARROERO 3,179,163

REFRIGERATED SHELF STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 25, 1962 1&- 12

J i i 1 I 3 I I y X17 1 I 1 l #27 L: It

INVENTOR. [00/5 E 54620520 ArmP/mrs United States Patent 3,179,163 REFRIGERATED SHELF STRUCTURE Louis F. Barroero, 1585 Daniels Drive, San Leandro, Calif.

Filed Jan. 25, 1962, Ser. No. 168,687 7 Claims. (Cl. 165-67) This invention relates to refrigerating shelf structures, such as those shown and described in United States Patent No. 2,962,875 and in my copending application Ser. No. 91,939 filed Feb. 27, 1961, and now United States Patent No. 3,090,211 granted May 21, 1963. More particularly, this invention involves an apparatus for mounting such shelf structures from vertical air ducts or rear supporting panels.

In brief, the invention herein described provides apparatus for supporting a hollow shelf structure in fluid communication with a pair of air duct passageways. The apparatus more especially comprises a support arm that may be mounted to an air duct, said arm having a pair of mounting pins arranged in horizontally spaced relationship. A support bracket, which is initially secured to the side edge of a hollow shelf structure may be vertically mated with the first bracket, said bracket having a depending flange formed with a pair of slotted openings that are simultaneously engageable with the mounting pins of the support arm. Each of the slotted openings includes a substantially horizontal portion, and by moving the shelf structure in a horizontal direction away from the mounting pins of the arm, said pins are moved into the horizontal portions of the slotted openings. Thereafter, no mere vertical lifting of the shelf structure can dislodge the shelf structure from its support brackets. Moreover, the further use of resilient means intermediate the .air ducts and the shelf structure (as for example, the use of a gasket disposed peripherally of an air duct opening) constantly urges the shelf structure into a position locking the bracket to the support arm.

9 This invention also contemplates an interlocking arrangement of an air duct, a hollow shelf structure and supporting brackets which allows a support arm to be vertically hung and then secured in position by the mating engagement between shelf duct leads and openings into the air ducts. For this purpose, the support arnris detachably mounted by means including a pair of vertically spaced pins and a complementary pair of upper and lower hooks, said hooks having a vertical slot for engaging one of said pins, respectively. .It will be seen that after the arm has been mounted, and with the hollow shelf structure in position, duct leads being mated with duct openings, then the bracket cannot be moved vertically so as to dislodge the hooks from the mounting pins.

Another feature of this invention resides in forming the support arm with a substantially U-shaped cross section, as formed by two parallel side plate members joined at the bottom. The mounting pins of this bracket extend between the side plate members, thereby providing a symmetrical bracket construction that may be used for supporting a shelf structure on either or both sides thereof.

It will become evident that a primary object of this invention is to provide supporting apparatus for a hollow shelf structure and which apparatus may be assembled without the aid of tools. or equipment.

Another object is to provide supporting apparatus for a hollow shelf structure including an interlocking arrangement which prevents inadvertent dislodgement of the shelf structure.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent in view of the drawings and the following detailed description Referring to the drawings forming a part of this ap- 3,179,163 Patented Apr. 20, 1965 plication, and in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout the same,

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a hollow refrigerating shelf which is mounted by apparatus constructed in a preferred manner and in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the brackets used in mounting the shelf structure as shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken onlines 33 of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1 in particular, there is illustrated a pair of spaced air ducts '10 and 11 from which is supported a hollow refrigerated shelf 12 constructed in accordance with the teaching of United States Patent No. 2,962,875 and copending application Ser. No. 91,939. Shelf 12 fluidly communicates with air ducts 10 and 11 through duct leads 13 and 14, respectively, and resilient gaskets 15 are disposed peripherally of openings into the air ducts, said gaskets being intermediate shelf 12 and the air ducts.

Each side edge of shelf 12 is supported from the air ducts 10 and 11 by pairs of symmetrical support brackets 16 and 1'7 that are matable with support arms 18 on each side, shownmore particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3. Arms 18 are detachably mounted to angle bars 19 which extend vertically along the front edge of each air duct; and brackets 16 and 17 are rigidly attached to opposite side edges of shelf 12 becoming a part thereof. It will be evident that brackets 16 and 17 are supported upon brackets 18 when and as the shelf structure is placed in juxtaposition to ducts :10 and 11 with duct leads 13 and 14 in fluid communication therewith.

. Arms 18 may be formed with a pair of side plate members 2% and 21 that have been joined along their bottom sides and define a substantially U-shaped groove. A pair of horizontally spaced mounting pins 22 and 23 extend between members 21 and 21, said pins forming simultaneous engagements with slotted openings 24 and 25 which are formed in the depending flange 26 of symmetrical brackets 16 and 17. It will be particularly noted that slots 24 and 25 extend upwardly from the bottom edge of the depending flanges 26, and each slotted opening includes a substantially horizontal portion. directed toward the angle bar 19 and air ducts 10 and 11. Brackets 16 i and 17 also include a shelf supporting ledge 27 which may be secured to the bottom of the shelf 12, as by screws. 1

Support arms 18 are each mounted to an angle bar 19 by a pair of vertically spaced pins 28 and 29, which pins extend horizontally from one side ofthe angle bar. Angle bars 19 are secured to the air ducts by conventional fastening means such as bolts 30 and nuts 31. Arms 18 include an upper hook 32 and a lower hook 33 which complement mounting pins 28 and 29 respectively, both hooks having a vertical slot simultaneously engageable with their respective pins, as shown in FIG. 2.

Shelf structure 12 may be supported in juxtaposition to air ducts 10 and 11 in the following manner: Support arms 18 are initially mounted to the angle bars 19 by mating hooks 32 and 33 with pins 28 and 29, respectively. The shelf structure 12, having support brackets 16 and 17 secured thereto along opposite side edges, is then moved into position by first placing duct leads 13 and 14 through the openings and gaskets 15 of air ducts 1t} and 11. This is done While holding the shelf 12 at a. vertical incline,

and retaining the lower edge of depending flanges 26 above pins 22 and 23. With ducts leads 13 and 14 fully inserted and :by applying additional pressure against the gasket 15, which is thereby compressed, slotted openings 24 and 25 are placed into alignment with pins 22 and 23, respectively. Holding shelf 12 against the gaskets 15,

slotted openings 24 and 25 are then vertically mated with pins 22 and 23. The resiliency of gaskets tends to force the shelf structure (including the athxed brackets 16 and 17) away from the air ducts. Accordingly, after the shelf has been moved downwardly as far as slots 24 and 25 will allow, and by mer'cly releasing the shelf, pins 22 and 23 become lodged in the horizontal portion of each slot. So mounted, shelf 12 is effectively held in a locked position, and neither the shelf itself nor the support arms 13 can be removed or inadvertently dismantled by a mere vertical lifting force. More particularly, duct leads 13 and 14 prevent vertical removal of the support arms 18, and the locking cooperation of pins 22 and 23, which are then disposed in the horizontal portions of slots 24 and 2S, prevent vertical removal of the shelf brackets 16 and 17. However, it will be readily apparent that the entire shelf supporting structure may be rapidly dismantled for cleaning, repair or replacement of parts by reversing the assembly procedure.

FIG. 3 most clearly illustrates the utility of using a support arm which defines a substantially tJ-shaped groove. Such a support arm may be used for supporting a shelf structure from either or both sides thereof, the depending flanges 25 of the bracket 16 of one shelf and the bracket 17 of another shelf being received in the groove. The slotted openings of each depending flange can then be mated with the same mounting pins 22 r and 23.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the separate provision of mounting brackets 16 and 17 could as well be provided by forming slotted openings in a depending flange of the shelf itself; and the mere reversal of parts by providing mounting pins 22 and 23 on a shelf structure and using slotted openings on a support arm is also within contemplation of this invention. It is also contemplated that the purpose and function of support pins 28 and 29 could be provided by other means. If desired, a channel bar having vertically spaced openings could be mounted to the air ducts much the same as angle bars 19. The books 32 and 33 of support arms 18 might then be mated with a pair of complementary openings, the slot of each hook engaging the wall of the channel and supported upon the lower edge of the channel bar opening. It is to be understood, therefore, that although various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of certain parts may be resorted to without departing from the teaching of the invention or the scope of the attached claims, each of such changes is contemplated.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: p

1. Inapparatus of the kind described including at least one vertical air duct having an opening in one side thereof, a hollow shelf structure having at least one air duct lead formed in a peripheral side edge thereof, said air duct lead being placed into fluid communication with the opening of said air duct, and the improvement in means for supporting one side of said shelf, comprising:

a support arm mounted to said air'duct and extending outward therefrom, a pair of mounting pins secured along said arm in horizontally spaced relationship in a direction extending away from said air duct;

a support bracket secured to said shelf structure and matable with said support arm, said support bracket having a depending flange and a pair of slotted openings extending upwardly from the bottom edge of said depending flange, each slotted opening including a substantially horizontal portion directed toward said air duct, said pair of openings being simultaneously matable with said'pair of mounting pins; and 1 l resilient means intermediate said air duct and said shelf structure urging said shelf structure away from said air duct and causing said pair of pins to become lodged in the substantially horizontal portions of said pair of slots. I

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said resilient means comprises a gasket disposed peripherally of said air duct opening.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support arm is detachably mounted to said air duct by means including a pair of vertically spaced supports, and wherein said arm includes upper and lower hooks each having a vertically depending slot for engaging said supports, respectively; said arm being removable only by a straight vertical lifting action and at a time that said shelf structure duct lead is not in fluid communication with the opening of said air duct.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support arm defines a substantially U-shaped groove, said pair of mounting pins extending across said groove; whereby said arm may be used for supporting a shelf structure on 7 either or both sides thereof. 7

5. In apparatus of the kind described including at least one vertical air duct having an opening in one side thereof, a hollow shelf structure having at least one air duct lead formed in a peripheral side edge thereof, said air duct lead being placed into fluid communication with the opening of said air duct, and the improvement in means for supporting one side of said shelf, comprising:

a support arm having a pair of mounting pins secured thereto in horizontally spaced relationship; means for detachably mounting said support arm to said air duct including a pair of vertically spaced supporting surfaces, said support arm including upper and lower hooks each having a vertically depending slot simultaneously engageable with said pair of supporting surfaces, respectively; said arm being removable only by a straight vertical lifting action and at a time that said shelf structure duct lead is not in fluid communication with the opening of said air duct; and

a support bracket secured to said shelf structure and matable with said support arm, said support bracket having a depending flange and a pair of slotted openings extending upwardly from the bottom edge of said depending flange, each slotted opening including a substantially horizontal portion directed toward said air duct, said pair of openings being simultaneously matable with said pair of mounting pins.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said support arm defines a substantially U-shaped groove, said pair References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,729,429 3,021,691 2/62 Jacobs 62419 CHARLES SUKALO, Primary. Eataminer.

1/56 Goeman -49 

1. IN APPARATUS OF THE KIND DESCRIBED INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE VERTICAL AIR DUCT HAVING AN OPENING IN ONE SIDE THEREOF, A HOLLOW SHELF STRUCTURE HAVING AT LEAST ONE AIR DUCT LEAD FORMED IN A PERIPHERAL SIDE EDGE THEREOF, SAID AIR DUCT LEAD BEING PLACED INTO FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH THE OPENING OF SAID AIR DUCT, AND THE IMPROVEMENT IN MEANS FOR SUPPORTING ONE SIDE OF SAID SHELF, COMPRISING: A SUPPORT ARM MOUNTED TO SAID AIR DUCT AND EXTENDING OUTWARD THEREFROM, A PAIR OF MOUNTING PINS SECURED ALONG SAID ARM IN HORIZONTALLY SPACED RELTIONSHIP IN A DIRECTION EXTENDING AWAY FROM SAID AIR DUCT; A SUPPORT BRACKET SECURED TO SAID SHELF STRUCTURE AND MATABLE WITH SAID SUPPORT ARM, SAID SUPPORT BRACKET HAVING A DEPENDING FLANGE AND A PAIR OF SLOTTED OPENINGS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE BOTTOM EDGE OF SAID DEPENDING FLANGE, EACH SLOTTED OPENING INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PORTION DIRECTED TOWARD SAID AIR DUCT, SAID PAIR OF OPENINGS BEING SIMULTANEOUSLY MATABLE WITH SAID PAIR OF MOUNTING PINS; AND RESILIENT MEANS INTERMEDIATE SAID AIR DUCT AND SAID SHELF STRUCTURE URGING SAID SHELF STRUCTURE AWAY FROM SAID AIR DUCT AND CAUSING SAID PAIR OF PINS TO BECOME LODGED IN THE SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PORTIONS OF SAID PAIR OF SLOTS. 